THE " WAKA MAORI."

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1530, 2 December 1873, Page 35

THE " WAKA MAORI."

Among our exchanges, not the least interesting is "Te Waka Maori," which is now printed both in English and Maori, in parallel columns. We extract a few items from the " Notices to Correspondents," iu the last number : Muera Te Rangitaumaha, of Ngahape, Napier, alluding to the letter of Hoani Nahe, published in Te Waka Maori of the 17th of September last, says the Maoris of his district (Ahuriri) have been striving to obey the laws which have been made by the pakeha for the governance of the country, but they find them too hard for them—such knowledge is too high, they cannot attain unto it; and he supposes they must suffer, as the children of Israel did because they were not able to obey the laws of God. Maoris, he says, have been sent to Parliament to represent the natives, so that it may be seen that the Parliament is in reality a New Zealand Parliament; but " their mouths are so full of money that they cannot speak." He thinks the pakeha laws are cunningly baited hooks to catch simple Maori fish. We do not suppose that Te Muera and his friends can " attain " to a thorough knowledge of the English laws ; neither can the pakeha generally—all men are not lawyers. But Te Muera and his friends may depend that the laws have been made for the benefit and well-being of all. They have simply to " do unto others as they would that others should do unto them," and they will find that the laws will not injure but protect and support them in such a course. If Te Muera will calmly reflect on the attitude of the Government towards the natives since the advent of the pakehas to this country, he must see that it has been dictated by a feeling o£ love towards them, and a desire for their prosperity and well-being. If the pakeha were desirous of "catching the Maori," it would not be necessary for so powerful a nation to descend to so mean aft artifice as " baiting a hook " for the purpose. The laws which specially ; affect the Maoris are now being translated into their own language, and printed for the information of the Maori people generally ; and the law which most affects them, " The Native Land Act, 1873, is being summarized and explained in the ! columns of the Waka Maori.

Te Nihotahi, of Parekarangi, in the Province of Auckland, writes urging all Maoris who still cling to the habits and customs and ideas of their Maori ancestors to discard them all, to throw open their lands to the enterprise and knowledge of the pakeha, and to follow the example of the pakeha and submit to the laws. He says, "Guided by the laws affecting the body, and the laws (of God) affecting the soul (i.e. human and divine), the pakeha has become a great people." Hohaia Rangiauru, of Motueka, in the Nelson Province, expresses his great satisfaction at the establishment of native schools throughout the country to educate the Maori children in English. He complains of drunkenness and other vices amongst the Maoris in his district, and says that himself and other two chiefs have been appointed by the people to act as magistrates for the suppression of these evils. They have at times inflicted fines for drunkenness, and he asks us to say whether they are justified in so doing. We say, in answer, that under the English law they are not justified in fining such persons, as they are not magistrates legally appointed under the authority of the Queen to administer her laws. But if the people have given them that power, and all agree to submit to their decisions, we see no wrong in it—they are acting under the authority and with the consent of the people. If the rapid increase of drunkenness amongst the. Maori people be not arrested, they will, ere many years have passed away, no longer exist as a people. The evils which result from drunkenness are innumerable—-evils to the body, evils to property, evils to society generally, and, above all, evils to the immortal soul of man. There is a body of persons amongst the pakehas, called "Good Templars." They are banded together for the suppression of drinking amongst the people, and for the reclamation of drunkards. Their object is to abolish the sale of drink altogether. There are many thousands of these people in the towns Of England, and America, and other countries ; and they are daily increasing in numbers in every town in New Zealand. Wp dp not see why chiefs and intelligent men of the Maoris, who have the Welfare of tln-ir race at heart, sh.-uld not iband themselves together fur a lik< purpose. We ivcommend all respectable natives throughout New Zealand, who desire that their race may be preserved, to put themselves in communication with some of the officers of the Good Templars, who will be glad to give them their advice and assistance in destroying this taniwha (a voracious reptile). Hapakuku Moetara, of Waimamaku, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, informs us that last May, two young chiefs of that place had their house burned, whereby they lost property valued at £80. He forwards us a list of natives and some few Europeans who' have together subscribed a sum of £41 9s 4d to cover their loss. We have not room to publish the names of the subscribers,